Pete Gregson ejected from council meeting today

Campaigner ejected from meeting

A campaigner has been kicked out of a council meeting following “utterly shameful” comments about Ruth Davidson’s baby.

Peter Gregson, who was addressing the council’s Transport and Environment committee in response to a proposed cycle route through Roseburn, was removed from City Chambers following the outburst. Mr Gregson accused the council of “asphyxiating Ruth Davidson’s baby”, Finn, by claiming the authority was not tackling air quality. He explained that the Conservative party’s Scottish leader might want to take her child to work – her constituency office is in Roseburn.

The former council employee, who is currently suspended by the Labour party, over what he claims are “bogus anti-Semitism charges”, was interrupted and halted by Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes.

Cllr Macinnes labelled the comments “utterly shameful” and moved to “disassociate the council and everyone else in this room” from his views that she said were “an appalling presentation of your argument”.

Conservative Cllr Nick Cook called for Mr Gregson to leave the room, leading to Cllr Macinnes suspending the meeting for a private discussion between councillors.Cllr Macinnes then ejected Mr Gregson, who left the room, stating, “please let baby Finn live” and “watch out for the future, folks”.

Mr Gregson who is an avid pro cycling campaigner, but attended this morning’s meeting under the umbrella of the local community council, later sent out a press release. In it he claims he “pointed out that he was a ratepayer” when security staff tried to remove him, at which point he re-entered the room. He also claims that “the police were called”. This is not entirely true. The police were alerted by the matter had been dealt with by the time they arrived.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Quite rightly, Ruth wants to keep her baby as far away from party politics as possible.”

City Chambers Edinburgh

Note from the Editor : The first line of this article has been amended as Mr Gregson was first designed as an anti-cycling campaigner – he is pro-cycling.